§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines his Department has issued to health boards with regard to remedying the problems of community care, in cases where the transition from institutions to the community is costing more than anticipated.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythNone. I do not accept that any deficiencies in the provision of community care arise from inadequate funding of the relevant authorities. Gross expenditure on the National Health Service in Scotland is expected to reach £2,754 million in 1989–90. After allowing for inflation, this amounts to an increase in real terms of 34 per cent. since 1979–80. The Government's planning figure for current expenditure on social work services in 1989–90 is £445.4 million, an increase of 38 per cent. in real terms since 1979–80. We have made it clear to the relevant authorities that within these substantially increased resources a high priority should be given to the provision of community care services for vulnerable groups.